A resurfaced video of Democrat Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey dancing with a Somali flag and wearing an “I Love Somalia” t-shirt is drawing renewed attention as Minnesota faces multiple welfare fraud scandals tied to the Somali community. The clip, filmed at the 65th Somali Independence Day celebration in June, comes as state and federal authorities continue to investigate billions in alleged welfare fraud—some involving individuals and nonprofits deeply embedded in Minneapolis’s Somali network.
The event, hosted in the heart of the Twin Cities, highlighted Frey’s ongoing effort to cultivate favor with the growing Somali-American population, now estimated at around 80,000 in the area. Despite this outreach, Frey underperformed in Somali-heavy precincts during his last re-election, losing those districts to state Rep. Omar Fateh. His post-election attempt to speak Somali during his victory speech also stirred criticism as performative and politically calculated.
Frey’s participation in the Somali celebration has come under added scrutiny due to its sponsor—Ka Joog, a Somali nonprofit that has continued receiving millions in state welfare funds. Ka Joog’s top official, Ali Elmi, was recently arrested and charged in a $9 million fraud case tied to the broader web of corruption plaguing Minnesota’s welfare system.
Critics say Frey’s closeness with individuals and organizations now linked to fraud raises serious questions about political accountability and government oversight. Minnesota, under Democrat Gov. Tim Walz, has seen the eruption of high-profile fraud investigations involving Somali-led nonprofits accused of diverting taxpayer-funded aid intended for childcare and food programs.
The video’s resurgence underscores concerns about identity politics overtaking governance in one of the nation’s most progressive cities. Frey’s highly publicized displays of solidarity with one ethnic community have drawn rebuke as multibillion-dollar welfare failures cast a shadow over Minneapolis’s leadership and priorities.
